Geranium plant named ‘Fisromon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named ‘Fisromon’, particularly characterized by the combined features of salmon-pink with narrow white margin, semi-double flowers, big inflorescences well above the foliage, deep green foliage with strong zonation, medium to tall plant habit, and about medium begin of flowering.

Genus and species of the invention: Hybrid Pelargonium zonale L'Héritier

Variety denomination: ‘Fisromon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of geranium,botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name ‘Fisromon’.

‘Fisromon’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new zonal geranium cultivars with salmon flowercolor, relatively vigorous, but well-branched growth habit, and goodoutdoor performance.

‘Fisromon’ originated from a hybridization made by the inventor,Angelika Utecht, in a controlled breeding program in Hillscheid,Germany, in 1998. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid seedling,No. 95-30-5, having red single-type flowers, medium green foliage, withstrong zonation, and medium sized plant habit, and derived from crossesbetween the commercial varieties ‘Fisnida’ (unpatented), and ‘Volcano’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,940). The male parent of ‘Fisromon’ was theunpatented hybrid seedling No. 92-175-18, with salmon and white,semi-double flowers, medium green leaves with weak zonation, andmoderately vigorous growth habit.

‘Fisromon’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross by Angelika Utecht in 1999 in a controlled environment inMoncarapacho, Portugal.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Fisromon’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in thefall of 1999 in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal, by,or under the supervision of, Angelika Utecht.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in May 2000 in Hillscheid, Federal Republic of Germany, andcontinuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Fisromon’ are firmly fixed andare retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Fisromon’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Hillscheid, Germany, under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Fisromon’ in combination distinguish thisgeranium as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Bright salmon-pink flowers with a narrow white margin;

2. Large inflorescences and long, strong peduncles;

3. Deep green foliage with strong zonation;

4. Fairly vigorous growth, medium to tall, semi-spherically shaped planthabit, and

5. Medium spring flowering response.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to ‘Fisromon’ are the patented varieties‘Fisorange’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,485), ‘Fishelen’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 12,722), and ‘Fissalm’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,454).

In comparison to ‘Fisorange’, ‘Fisromon’ has somewhat less deep orangecolored flowers, and grows distinctly taller. In comparison with‘Fishelen’, ‘Fisromon’ has a somewhat deeper salmon flower color, lessdistinct white margin, and a much taller plant habit. In comparison with‘Fissalm’, inflorescences of ‘Fisromon’ are higher above the foliage,the leaves are not quite so big, and zonation is somewhat stronger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Fisromon’ with colors being as true as possible withan illustration of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Hillscheid, Germany, in mid May 2003, 11weeks after planting of rooted cuttings. The plants were grown in 14 cmpots, they had not been pinched. In the following description colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. Thecolor values were determined indoors from plants growing in agreen-house in May 2003 in Hillscheid, Germany.

INFLORESCENCE

Umbel:

Shape.—Semi-spherical.

Average diameter.—122 mm.

Average depth.—60 mm.

Peduncle length.—200 mm, diameter 3-4 mm.

Peduncle color.—Light green, RHS 143 C, partly brown, from RHS 173 A to173 B.

Pedicel.—36 mm in length.

Pedicel color.—Near base light green, RHS 144 B, main part brownish,from RHS 173 A to 173 C.

Number of flowers per umbel.—About 50-75.

Corolla:

Average diameter.—46 mm.

Form.—Semi-double-type.

Shape.—Cup-like, with few inner petals, round outline, with the upperpetals about the same size as the lower petals.

Number of petals.—6-7.

Shape of petals.—Obovate, base acute, upper end is truncate or rounded,margin is entire. Size of petals: Upper petals: 21-24 mm long, 18-20 mmwide; lower petals: 21-23 mm long, 20-22 mm wide.

Number of petaloids.—Most often 2, narrower in shape than the petals.

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).—Salmon-orangewith a little white.

Color of upper petals.—Main part RHS 40 B, near margin light pink, RHS52 C, to white, RHS 155 D.

Markings of upper petals.—Weak pink spot, RHS 52 B, near the base.

Color of lower petals.—Mainly RHS 40 B, near margin RHS 56 D or 155 D.

Markings of lower petals.—None.

Color of lower surface of petals.—Marbled, RHS 43 D, RHS 43 C, 55 C and155 D.

Color of sepals.—Outer surface: light green, RHS 143 B, near base weaklybrownish infused, RHS 179 B; inner surface: light green, RHS 143 C, nearbase RHS 179 B.

Number of sepals.—5.

Shape of sepals.—Linear to lanceolate, acute tip, truncate base, surfacewith very weak pubescence, margin entire.

Size of sepals.—About 10 mm long, 3-4 mm wide for the largest uppersepal, 3 mm in width for the other sepals.

Bud: (just prior to petals unfolding)

Shape.—Elliptical.

Color of sepals.—Light green, RHS 143 B.

Color of petals.—Marbled, between RHS 40 C and 38 C Length: 15 mm Width:8 mm.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Androecium.—7 fertile anthers, plenty pollen, yellow-orange, RHS 30 A,filaments white, RHS 155 D, to light-pink, RHS 52 D.

Gynoecium.—One pistil, red style, RHS 44 A, stigma 5-6-lobed stigma,red, RHS 44 A.

Fertility/seed set.—No seed set observed.

Spring flowering response period: In Hillscheid, Germany, in 2001 plantshad on average 0.5 flowers opened 8 weeks after planting of rootedcuttings

Outdoor flower production: Continuously and moderately rich floweringthe flower count in 2003 in Hillscheid, Germany, indicated about 2inflorescences per plant in mid May.

Durability: Good stability of flower color, fair rain resistance

Lastingness of the individual flower: About 8 days at 18° C., about 15days for the umbel

Fragrance: None

PLANT

Foliage:

Shape.—Kidney-shaped to nearly round, with cordate base, with the gapbetween the lowest lobes closed or nearly closed, apex rounded with weaklobes.

Margin.—Bicrenate.

Texture.—Upper surface smooth, dull.

Size of leaf.—110 mm wide, 65 mm long.

Color of upper surface.—Medium green, closest to RHS 137 C.

Color of zonation.—Strong, brown, about RHS 166 A.

Color of lower surface.—RHS 137 D.

Petioles.—75 mm long, 2-3 mm diameter, green in color, approximately RHS137 D.

General appearance and form:

Stem color.—Mainly green, from RHS 143 A-143 B, in parts weakly infusedwith brown, RHS 173 A.

Internode length.—35-45 mm.

Branching pattern.—4-5 branches.

Size of plants.—20.0 cm high, 32.3 cm wide (11-week-old plants, asdescribed, measured from the top of the soil (base of the main stem) tothe surface of the foliage canopy, without inflorescences).

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named‘Fisromon’, as described and illustrated herein.